U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in Greco-Roman at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.
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by Craig Sesker
Harry Lester is one of the most talented Greco-Roman wrestlers in the World in any weight class. Lester has made the last three U.S. World Teams and has won a World bronze medal the past two years.
Lester is heavily favored to make his first Olympic Team this year. He is explosive and strong, and is wrestling well again this season. Lester did not wrestle at U.S. Nationals for the third straight year, but will still be the favorite at the Olympic Trials.
Veteran Mark Rial broke through to win U.S. Nationals and will be the No. 1 seed at the Olympic Trials. Rial has wrestled well the last couple of seasons. He placed third at the 2007 World Team Trials.
Jake Deitchler, who recently graduated from high school in Minnesota, was one of the big stories at U.S. Nationals. Deitchler was a surprise finalist before falling to Rial 5-4, 1-1 in the finals. Deitchler was on the 2007 U.S. Junior World Team.
Faruk Sahin is a dangerous wrestler in this division. He lost a close match to Lester at the 2007 World Team Trials. Sahin is experienced and savvy. He placed third at U.S. Nationals. 2007 World Team Trials runner-up Jacob Curby placed fourth at U.S. Nationals.
Jacob Hey, Marcel Cooper and Oscar Wood also are contenders in this class. Hey was fifth, Cooper sixth and Wood seventh at the Trials. Cooper was a 2001 World Team member. He placed third at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials. Wood was a 2004 Olympian, putting together his best season ever.
Veteran Mike Ellsworth, who has been a U.S. Nationals and U.S. World Team Trials runner-up, qualified through the Regional Trials. Young stars to watch are Esai Dominguez and Bo Beckman.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Jake Deitchler, New Ramsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5-4, 1-1
3rd - Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) pin Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator/USOEC), 1:11
5th - Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) inj. dft. Marcel Cooper, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
7th - Oscar Wood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Ben Sanchez, Leominster, Mass. (USOEC), 3-3, 5-0
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
1. Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Jake Deitchler, New Ramsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
3. Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (Gator WC)
4. Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator/USOEC)
6. Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
7. Marcel Cooper, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Oscar Wood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
9. Mike Ellsworth, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
10. Shanon Slack, Colorado Springs, Colo. (No Limits)
11. Esai Dominguez, Omaha, Neb. (Maverick WC)
12. Bo Beckman, Pleasant Grove, Utah (USOEC)
Lester is heavily favored to make his first Olympic Team this year. He is explosive and strong, and is wrestling well again this season. Lester did not wrestle at U.S. Nationals for the third straight year, but will still be the favorite at the Olympic Trials.
Veteran Mark Rial broke through to win U.S. Nationals and will be the No. 1 seed at the Olympic Trials. Rial has wrestled well the last couple of seasons. He placed third at the 2007 World Team Trials.
Jake Deitchler, who recently graduated from high school in Minnesota, was one of the big stories at U.S. Nationals. Deitchler was a surprise finalist before falling to Rial 5-4, 1-1 in the finals. Deitchler was on the 2007 U.S. Junior World Team.
Faruk Sahin is a dangerous wrestler in this division. He lost a close match to Lester at the 2007 World Team Trials. Sahin is experienced and savvy. He placed third at U.S. Nationals. 2007 World Team Trials runner-up Jacob Curby placed fourth at U.S. Nationals.
Jacob Hey, Marcel Cooper and Oscar Wood also are contenders in this class. Hey was fifth, Cooper sixth and Wood seventh at the Trials. Cooper was a 2001 World Team member. He placed third at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials. Wood was a 2004 Olympian, putting together his best season ever.
Veteran Mike Ellsworth, who has been a U.S. Nationals and U.S. World Team Trials runner-up, qualified through the Regional Trials. Young stars to watch are Esai Dominguez and Bo Beckman.
2008 U.S. Nationals results
1st - Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Jake Deitchler, New Ramsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 5-4, 1-1
3rd - Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) pin Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator/USOEC), 1:11
5th - Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) inj. dft. Marcel Cooper, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
7th - Oscar Wood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Ben Sanchez, Leominster, Mass. (USOEC), 3-3, 5-0
2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds
1. Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Jake Deitchler, New Ramsey, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
3. Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (Gator WC)
4. Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
5. Jacob Curby, LaGrange, Ill. (Gator/USOEC)
6. Jacob Hey, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)
7. Marcel Cooper, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
8. Oscar Wood, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
9. Mike Ellsworth, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
10. Shanon Slack, Colorado Springs, Colo. (No Limits)
11. Esai Dominguez, Omaha, Neb. (Maverick WC)
12. Bo Beckman, Pleasant Grove, Utah (USOEC)
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